New rules must strike a balance

WE may be immersed in the Christmas break but for the players and management of the provincial sides, it represents one of the busiest periods of the year.

Judging by the release of the new Player Contract Policy by the IRFU last Wednesday, it has also been a busy time for those charged with running the professional game in this country.

The guiding principle of the new policy is to aid the development of Irish qualified players and to remove the blockage that overseas players are creating in the system at present. It is an issue that requires examination as our younger talent need to be exposed to the demands of domestic and European competition at a younger age. Only time will tell whether the new policy will hinder the competitiveness of our sides in the Heineken Cup. If that proves to be the case then that would also have consequences for the national team.